2013 Queens BP Questionnaire

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Instructions: Gothamist plans to interview all candidates for citywide and boroughwide office in 2013. This survey will give us and our readers an overview of each candidates positions on issues of particular import to our audience of young New York voters. For each question, please give a a short response outlining your candidates position. You may include a link to longer position statements at the bottom of each response, which we will include when we publish the piece. If you do not wish to answer any question, please specify no comment. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Candidate Overview

1. What are the top challenges facing Queens right now? How will you use the limited power of
the Queens Borough Presidency to solve these problems? Public Safety-- As

the Chair of the Councils Public Safety Committee since 2002, I have used bold and imaginative ideas to reduce crime, keep out City safe from terror, and to make our city a great place to live and work. During my tenure as Chair, crime in New York City has dropped 35% citywide. Murders are down 60%, burglaries are down 50% and felony assaults are down 20%, just to name a few. Just last year, New York City experienced the lowest number of murders ever recorded in our history. The FBI rates New York City as the safest large city in the United States of America. I have increased punishment for gun traffickers, graffiti vandals, rowdy sports fans and unscrupulous nightclub owners, all while working with the NYPD to ensure our officers are properly trained and equipped to enforce the law. I have fought against cuts to the police department, and with the threat of terrorism constantly hanging over New Yorkers heads, I have led the fight to secure more money for anti-terror patrols, first responders and the technology needed to stop a terrorist plot before it starts. I have demanded that Albany pass tougher laws against sexual offenders, especially those that threaten our children. I have also created a neighborhood watch in Astoria, Queens. Simply put, our streets and our families are safer today because of my efforts as a City Councilman. As the only candidate with experience keeping communities safe, I will continue to make public safety my number one priority.
Economic Development- As

the only candidate for Borough President with experience running a small business, I understand firsthand how government can sometimes overburden business owners with excessive bureaucratic red tape. For ten years prior to being elected, I ran my familys law firm, Vallone and Vallone, which was founded in 1932. As a Council Member, I sponsored legislation to create a new program called NYC Business Link, which will direct business owners questions about permitting and licensing through a central coordinator in an effort to streamline small business development. I have repeatedly voted against legislation that places unneeded restrictions

on small business owners. In an effort to reduce negative interactions between business owners and city inspectors, myself and my colleagues passed legislation to require city agencies to recommend changes to current laws so that business owners can obtain warnings instead of excessive fines for non-dangerous violations; to require inspectors to attend customer service training and to hand out a business owners Bill of Rights during inspections. If elected as Queens Borough President, I will continue to be a voice for small business owners. I will fight against over regulation and the enforcement of unfair, bloated fines which have stifled the growth of our small businesses.
Environment- I

have always been an environmental conservationist. I am a strong believer in protecting the environment, both for ourselves and for our future generations. I have encouraged the use of energy efficient policies such as clear air taxis and green buildings in order to decrease our carbon footprint. Before getting elected to the City Council, I was counsel for the anti-smog group C.H.O.K.E. (Coalition Helping Organize a Kleaner Environment), which led the movement to reduce the harmful smoke billowing from Astorias power plants. With C.H.O.K.E., I filed a lawsuit that led to the eventual closure of the Charles Poletti power plant, the worst polluter in the state. A pioneer of clean air legislation, myself, with my colleagues, passed the first bill ever to limit CO2 emissions in a major city. I have been a strong proponent of PlaNYC - an unprecedented effort by Mayor Bloomberg to prepare the city for one million more residents, strengthen our economy, combat climate change, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. The Plan brought together over 25 City agencies to work toward the vision of a greener, greater New York through over 400 initiatives including MillionTreesNYC and construction on the number 7 subway line extension. In addition, I wrote the landmark Plastic Bag Recycling Act, which established film and plastic bag recycling in New York City. Consistently receiving high grades on his voting record from the New York League of Conservation Voters, Peter certainly understands the need to protect our environment and has delivered. As our Borough President, I will preserve our parks, wetlands and wildlife, and will continue to build upon his accomplishments in the City Council having served as a Member of the Councils Environmental Protection Committee for over 11 years.
Redeveloping Far Rockaway- My

public safety committee was the first to hold two prehurricane hearings, in 2005 and 2009, entitled Are we ready for a Hurricane calling on the city to have a plan in place to deal with all aspects of a major storm. I held the first City Council post-hurricane Sandy hearing where I grilled city officials on issues ranging from disaster recovery to planning for the next major storm. I have introduced legislation on the federal level to allow houses of worship damaged by Sandy to receive aid from FEMA. The City Council has passed bills to waive city fees for permits, applications and inspections for businesses hurt by Hurricane Sandy. My bill to increase penalties for

looting during state of emergencies became law in March and I am constantly working with the affected areas of Queens to provide more assistance, I will continue to work with unions, civic group and local residents to rebuild responsibly and study our options of protecting the area from another storm and protect the homes of the current residents.
Education- Schools

are the ships that sail our children into promising futures. I believe that in order to create a strong learning environment, not only must we have the best teachers in our classrooms; we need to ensure that each school in New York City is a bastion of security. I wrote the law that mandated security cameras outside every public school. I am the prime sponsor of legislation that would require the New York City Police and Education departments to provide security measures for non-public schools, and I wrote the law to allow school children to carry cellular phones to and from school for safety purposes. I have sponsored legislation to keep sexual predators far away from school grounds, and to notify parents about the presence of these criminals when they move into our neighborhoods. In addition to safety, I have given millions of dollars to local schools to improve infrastructure, classroom technology, and to ensure that afterschool programming remains intact. I authored a resolution calling upon the Department of Education to institute a policy that would set guidelines to limit homework given to elementary and middle school children and would include a homework-free night to allow children to participate in other activities, exercise and spend quality time with their families. In the face of every child, I see my two young daughters both promising students who have attended both public and private Queenss schools making me strive to push for academic achievement for all children in New York City. As Borough President, I will continue to invest in our children, build new schools to ease overcrowding and help ensure that every child receives an A+ education.

2. How would you distinguish your future administration from the present one run by QBP Helen
Marshall?

I would model my future administration after some of the current borough presidents. For example, I would publish more policy reports, submit legislation when needed, advocate loudly, and continue to support education.

Personal Questions 1. Do you rent or own your home? Own.

2. Do you have a pet?

Yes, a dog named Gus Gus.

3. If you have children, do/did they attend public schools?

Yes, I had two daughters attend public schools.

4. Have you ever been the victim of a crime?

Yes, I have had my identity stolen and my car stolen.

Safety and Crime

1. What changes would you like to see in the NYPD's stop and frisk policies?
I would like to see stop and frisk reformed, but not abolished. This is a complex issue and I encourage you to read my op-ed on my website, www.petervallone.com.

2. Do you support the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana in New York City?

I support the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana in plain view.

3. Do you support an independent inspector general for the NYPD?

I have not seen the new legislation and cannot make a decision until I see the bill. I believe its a serious policy issue and it should be given consideration.

Transportation, Bikes and Bike Lanes

1. How often do you ride a bike?

I ride my bicycle every weekend.

2. Do you support expanding or reducing the number of bike lanes in Queens?

I support expanding the number of bike lanes in appropriate locations after it has been reviewed and approved by the local community board.

3. Do you support congestion pricing?

No.

Development

1. Do you support a ban or limit on chain stores in Queens, including Walmart? As a former small business owner, I do not support a ban on chain stores as it helps support the economy. But I will entertain limits of certain chain stores, especially in areas that are inundated with only chain stores. 2. Do you support NYCHA's recently announced plans to build market rate apartments on public
housing parking lots and playgrounds?

I do not support the loss of any green space especially in dense housing communities such as NYCHA. 3. Do you support the "public-private" model of park development used under the Bloomberg
administration?

Yes, I believe a public-private model has been effective and would be beneficial in

the case of Flushing Meadow Park. If a private entity occupies a park, it should be responsible in maintaining that park since it that private entity is receiving public subsidizes. 4. How would your development policy differ from the one put forward by Helen Marshall? In
particular, please comment on your position regarding:

a. Bellrose/Floral Park/Glen Oaks Rezoning During the rezoning of my local area, I worked with the Dept. of City Planning and the community boards closely to make sure the low density residential areas were protected. I will continue to work for rezoning which will protect the character if our Queens neighborhoods by preventing overdevelopment and out if character development while encouraging some development in appropriate areas. b. Willets Point Redevelopment I have an issue with the use of eminent domain and to take private property for commercial purposes. I believe Willets Point is a unique circumstance due it lack of infrastructure and neglect. While I support development of this area, the community board has not fully weighed the issue yet. While the City Council voted to approve the development, the plan we were presented with was significantly different than the present one and I believe the project should come before the City Council again. c. Hunters Point South Development I believe that when a large density project is being proposed, the plans should include infrastructure. I believe all communities need green space, schools, libraries and community centers for high density developments to be ideal. d. Racino at Aqueduct I believe that if a full legal gambling casino were to come to Queens, the Aqueduct would be the appropriate place for the project. I will advocate for a publicprivate partnership to directly benefit the local communities surrounding the Racino and request more police and emergency services to address the large amount of people attending.

Transparency and Good Government borough? No.

1. Should New York judges continue to be selected by Democratic Party bosses in each

2. Queens has experienced a number of political corruption scandals recently- how will you use the power of the QBP office to clean up the Queens political establishment?

I have proposed legislation banning any public funding to organizations which employ any family or government staffers. I will continue to use any office Im in to speak loudly against any type of corruption. I will continue to lead by example in this borough. Its important to look at who were the mentors of all prospective elected officials. What my father has instilled in me, is solid ethics and integrity while serving as an elected official. The Vallones will never abuse the publics trust.